Sunderland man accused of ripping a niqab off a Muslim woman in shopping centre

Peter Scotter who has been charged with a racially aggravated common assault on a woman

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

A man accused of ripping a niqab off a Muslim woman in a shopping centre and shouting racist abuse will have his case heard before a Crown Court judge.

Peter Scotter, 55, was charged with a racially aggravated common assault on the woman, who was waiting for her husband outside a store in Sunderland’s The Bridges shopping centre with her nine-year-old son on July 3.

Scotter, of Beach Street, Roker, Sunderland, is accused of walking purposefully up to her, grabbing her niqab, causing her to almost fall forward, and leaving her with neck pain, Sunderland Magistrates’ Court heard.

The Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland

Scotter was accused of shouting racist abuse during the incident at 3.30pm, Laura Lax, prosecuting, said.

Police were called and Pc Deborah Chayton attended.

Scotter is accused of causing the officer alarm, harassment or distress, which was racially or religiously aggravated, after he was alleged to have continued to make abusive remarks.

He did not enter pleas to the two charges he faced.

Chairman of the Bench Robert Dash said the magistrates declined jurisdiction.

He said: “We consider that the allegations are so serious we cannot deal with them.